Bruckheimer on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

In February, we learned that both Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz were joining Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was reported that McShane would play the villain Blackbeard, but it wasn’t clear which role Cruz would take on.

In talking with MTV, producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Cruz is playing Blackbeard’s daughter. “She’s the daughter of the bad guy,” he said. You can expect “a little romance between Captain Jack and the new character that Penelope plays.” He said “she brings a lot of humor to it. And the fact that she’s so feisty.”

Bruckheimer added that Blackbeard is “the nastiest pirate ever.”

The producer also confirmed that Geoffrey Rush, who played Barbossa in the first three “Pirates” films, is indeed returning.

As for more roles to be cast, Bruckheimer said they they are “looking for some new kids to be in it, we’re testing right now.”

Asked how different this film will be, he said “we’re going to take a whole new direction,” but he did mention that “it is a continuation of what you saw last time, he’s in search for the Fountain of Youth.”

The Rob Marshall-directed film is scheduled to start filming in June for a May 20, 2011 release.